The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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The story I heard the next morning was slightly different from what I had expected.

“The animals did leave signs of fleeing. But it seems they didn’t run away after seeing the barbarians.”

Father, who had returned after searching the area with the hunters, explained with a grave expression.

“They didn’t run away after seeing the barbarians hunting; they had already fled before they saw them. Following the traces, we found a number of healthy animals.”

“So, you’re saying they just ran away after seeing the barbarians?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

At my question, Father shook his head.

“What I’m saying is that they fled before they saw that magic. They fled in advance.”

“That… is that even possible?”

“…”

Father appeared to be in deep thought for a moment, then spoke again.

“We don’t know much about magic. Our house doesn’t have a magician, after all. But I’ve heard tales about how magic ‘works.’ It’s said to manipulate the mana that fills this world, disrupting natural phenomena to create extraordinary occurrences.”

Father’s gaze shifted toward Amelia.

Amelia nodded.

When she confirmed it, Father continued.

“Based on this, we can hypothesize that the magic used by those barbarians severely disrupts nature. So much so that the beasts could sense its signs beforehand and flee. While we couldn’t detect it, the animals clearly could. Isn’t it similar to how some animals flee south, sensing an impending blizzard before it arrives?”

Father’s reasoning sounded plausible.

I wasn’t sure if all animals would respond in the same way to typical magic, but if that was possible, then the “portal magic” the barbarians used must have been very intense.

Of course, no one knew how that magic operated. Not only our household, which couldn’t use magic, but even the mages in the Tower likely had no idea.

Still, the situation seemed utterly unnatural. It couldn’t simply be compared to conjuring flames, creating water, freezing something, or piling up earth.

“And having roughly grasped the situation, we now have an idea of how to resolve this incident.”

Yet, despite his words, Father’s expression wasn’t one of ease or confidence.

It was, in fact, the most serious expression I had ever seen on him.

Not just Father, but all the hunters who had examined the surroundings with him bore the same grave look.

“This phenomenon has revealed that the barbarians can bypass our castle walls and attack. So we cannot remain idle within the walls. While it seems they can’t use that magic freely or repeatedly, as there’s been no new attack for over ten hours, that very unpredictability makes it even harder to prepare.”

Some might wonder why we couldn’t simply be ready at all times.

It’s easier said than done.

Humans, like any other animal, need rest after exertion. Constant vigilance for 24 hours would mentally break anyone.

Moreover, there’s so much to protect.

“We’ll fortify ourselves and eliminate the enemy. Carefully and thoroughly, ensuring we completely sever their lifeline. If we simply wait as we have so far, we’ll only suffer one-sidedly.”

Father knelt on one knee to meet my gaze.

His thick, rough hands rested on my shoulders.

“Elsie, you must steel yourself. The next few years will be a battleground. While it’s unlikely to be as large-scale as the wars they speak of in the South, we, too, have people to protect. You’re one of them.”

“…”

I had the wolf pack.

But even that wouldn’t be enough to put me in the attack force my father was talking about. Ultimately, the only one who could protect me on the battlefield was myself.

I would remain in the territory, but even that could be of help. Northern wolves were massive and strong. Judging by Gray and Snow, who had fought against the barbarians, each wolf could match a hunter in capability.

When I nodded, Father nodded in return and rose to his feet.

He then turned toward Amelia.

“My Lady, it’s time for you to return. We’ll send word to the Grand Duke. Though the sun doesn’t rise, it is still early winter, so the roads won’t have disappeared. It shouldn’t be a problem for you to head back.”

“Ah…”

“We cannot keep you here in a place where people like those barbarians might invade..”

When Amelia glanced at me, Father spoke in a voice as firm as stone.

“We will also prepare for His Highness, the Prince, to return along with you.”

With such a definitive statement, even Amelia, as the Grand Duke’s daughter, had no room for argument.

The Baron of Delkis was practically a vassal of the Grand Duke of Grattanmount. However, as the lord of his own land, his authority within his territory was absolute.

If the lord said to leave, they had to leave. No matter how significant the custom of hospitality might be, it would be neglectful of a host to keep a guest in a dangerous situation.

No one knew how far that dimensional portal could open. But based on the novel I had read, which made no mention of barbarians wreaking havoc in the Alwen Kingdom, Delkis likely succeeded in their subjugation mission.

“…I understand.”

In response to Father’s words, Amelia eventually answered as such.

Her voice was tinged with reluctance, but there wasn’t much she could do. No matter how righteous Amelia’s personality was now, she was still just seven years old. No matter how serious she sounded, to adults, it would simply seem like a child’s tantrum.

Moreover, even if she stayed, it would be hard for her to contribute meaningfully.

Thus, the day’s conversation ended like that.

*

The next day.

“Well, it can’t be helped. My staying wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway.”

Unlike Amelia, who had shown a somewhat dissatisfied expression, Prince Evan responded in a calm voice.

A prince was, quite literally, a prince. If this world were a fairy tale, he might have been a noble knight on a white horse. But even in a romance fantasy setting, this place was still grounded in reality. Naturally, a prince was made of flesh, blood, and bones—not just text in a story.

Though he was only ten years old, he had received a prince’s education. He would have quickly realized that stepping forward in such a situation wouldn’t be of much help.

Besides, the real reason the prince had come here in the first place was to “secure merit safely and solidify his position.”

Although Prince Evan was the first prince, his younger brother, just a year apart, was currently far more capable in many aspects. While it wasn’t detailed in the novel exactly when things changed, at least by the time Evan became crown prince, that dynamic had reversed.

That, however, was a story that would slowly unfold over the next ten years. For now, it was only natural for the prince to act as he did. Or rather, it was likely the decision of the adults close to him rather than the prince himself.

Having lived his life as such, it was only natural for him to comply to some extent with Baron Delkis, an ‘adult’.

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence fell between us as both of us became lost in thought.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

I was the first to break the silence.

“What do you mean?”

“You… killed that barbarian.”

“Oh.”

I hesitated slightly. I knew revisiting such memories wouldn’t be helpful, but it was hard to simply let it go.

After all, I had survived thanks to Prince Evan.

At my words, the prince lowered his gaze, staring down at his own hands.

He clenched and unclenched his fists several times before he eventually raised his gaze back to me and asked.

“And what about you? Are you all right?”

“…”

At that question, I hesitated for a while before answering.

“Honestly, not really.”

The prince’s eyes widened slightly at my reply.

“So even a Delkis person can say such a thing.”

“Delkis people are still human.”

“Is that so?”

Another silence settled between us.

“Even in that situation… I couldn’t awaken my aura.”

“…”

“They say it happens when your heart races, when your emotions run high.”

Was it similar to when I awakened my druid abilities?

In the novel I had read, the crown prince was already a swordmaster capable of enveloping his sword in a golden aura. I had heard it was an exceptional feat for his age.

“I’m sure you’ll awaken your ability someday.”

That was the one thing I could say with confidence.

“…”

He could have been annoyed by my certainty and snapped at me, but instead, Prince Evan simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, when that time comes, I’ll be counting on you. After all, we still have that sparring match to look forward to.”

He remembered that promise even after everything we’d been through?

…Hopefully, in ten years, he’ll have completely forgotten about it.